The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1999
John M. Schlarb, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Robert O. Banker, Cumming, GA (US);
Darryl L. Defreese, Lawrenceville, GA (US);
Gregory S. Durden, Jonesboro, GA (US);
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA (US);
Abstract
A method and system that provides a single multipurpose PPV channel that a subscriber tunes for all PPV services. From the subscriber's perspective, the program guide, previews, advertising, purchasing options, and showings of all PPV events occur on a single channel. There can be a single multipurpose PPV channel for all PPV services or single PPV channels for groups of similar services, such as a single Family PPV channel, a single Sports PPV channel, and a single Adult PPV channel that each represent single multipurpose channels for similar programming. The advertising on a single multipurpose channel can be directed to the type of programming on all the channels in the group. Once a subscriber purchases a PPV event, the HCT tunes to the MPEG transport stream and program information for the selected PPV event and displays the PPV event on the single multipurpose PPV channel at its associated start time. The subscriber does not have to select another channel. The subscriber that has not purchased a current PPV event continues to watch the previews, advertising, or program guide uninterrupted on the single multipurpose PPV channel. If a subscriber is watching the single multipurpose PPV channel and has not purchased a PPV event, the subscriber continues to see advertising with video or previews even between the event specific advertising. An interstitial service provides the previews, advertising or PPV guide during the period between PPV event advertisements.